Middle of Nowhere Hodgepodge

Lilacs against the silo

Join Joyce and the Gang

for

 She writes the questions;

we write the answers.

Plug them into your own blog

and join in!

1. Tell us about a time you found yourself 'in the middle of nowhere'. Was this deliberate?

 Slough - England

and I never can remember if it rhymes with Dough, Enough, or Through
Update: Elizabethd just informed me that Slough rhymes with NOW.

Slough, in the middle of nowhere, it seemed (probably because we were on a train). But then in England, even the middle of nowhere is always really close to somewhere.  In Wisconsin, the middle of nowhere is usually only close to nowhere else.  I wake up every morning to find myself in the middle of nowhere - and I like it a lot.

Rainy day in July

In the middle of nowhere
south view from our front porch

2. What's something you're 'in the middle of' today or this week?

I'm in the middle of reclaiming the garden pond and planting vegetables in the other garden. I pumped the water out of the pond, got the icky leaves, sticks, and other vegetation out so I could clean the liner, put in fresh water, and get the little stream with its waterfalls running again for the summer and fall.

Pond Reflections

3. At what age do you think 'middle age' begins? What does it mean to be 'middle aged'?

I just read that life expectancy in the US is 79 years, so I guess middle age begins at 39.5 years. What it means to be middle aged is that in a few short years your kids will start moving out of the house. But don't worry, it won't be long before you'll be able to start taking care of your aging parents. You'll see what I mean when you get there. It's a terrible feeling when you have to take the car keys away from your father.  And by that time, or hopefully before, you'll find a new freedom to not care a smidge what the Joneses are up to. Soon, you'll find yourself in the replacement category: knees, hips, etc. Bleak as that may sound, as a Christian, I know that every phase of life is ordained by God, precious to God, and every single phase is one in which we can live, by his grace, to glorify Him.

Carmen Peppers, my favorite

Fresh or roasted

4. Ravioli, stuffed peppers, samosas, deviled eggs, steamed dumplings, pierogis, or a jelly donut...your favorite food (from this list!) with something yummy in the middle. Your favorite not on the list?

I've never eaten samosas or pierogis. Are they really food? Of that list, stuffed peppers would be my favorite, for sure. I love them! I'm planting many peppers in early June and at harvest, I plan to stuff some of them. Delicious!  My favorite food with something yummy in the middle is the burger from Borgen's Cafe in Westby. I raved about it on Monday's post, but really, it was totally worth promoting. Another delicious food with a yummy middle is a York peppermint patty or a Butterfinger, but I try to avoid them. I like Oreos, but wish they would keep the yummy middle out. I hate throwing it away, but I like the crunchy outside so much better. Mr. C. thinks that a chocolate Digestive would be the same, but it's really not.

5. Albert Einstein is quoted as saying ''In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.' Would you agree? Have you found this to be true in your own life? Feel free to elaborate.

Whether we like it or not, we must look for opportunity in the middle of difficulty. What's the alternative - to simply get depressed? We either give up or move forward. I don't think there are any other choices. I'd prefer to move forward. I hope I still feel that way on June 7 (day after my attempt #2 hip replacement).

Not my Junior High School, but similar

6. What's a song you remember loving from your middle school years? Do you love it still?

Middle school wasn't invented yet when I would have been in middle school. We had elementary school, junior high, and high school. But from junior high, (dredging the recesses of my brain), it would have to be a Beatles song. 'I Want To Hold Your Hand,' was released on November 29, 1963, just seven days after the assassination of President Kennedy. The Kennedy assassination was much more of a blast on the timeline than the Beatles releasing a record, so much of my song memory from that time was probably eclipsed by Kennedy, Oswold, Jack Ruby, etc. etc.   (Oh no, I just realized that I was a sophomore in high school then. But the Kennedy connection is so interesting to me that I'm going to stick with it.)  

But I will always remember the hymns we would have been singing even during that time: Great is Thy Faithfulness, Blessed Assurance, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing. And yes I love them still.

7. May 18th is National Visit Your Relatives Day. Will you celebrate? Which relative would you visit if time, distance, and expense were not considered.

I would love to visit with my mom and dad, now, before we are joined in eternity. They are with the Lord, and sometimes I wish they could come over for dinner and that Mom could walk around my yard with me, helping me identify the plants popping up in the garden. Also, the same goes for Mr. C.'s parents. They were all great parents and good examples of Christian character: Love, Faithfulness, Perseverance, Reliability, etc, and I'd love to visit with them. 

 More relatives

Moving Closer

A relative who has lived far, far away (Texas) for 10 years is our daughter and her husband. BUT, they are moving back to Wisconsin. It will be wonderful to have them so much closer! 

8. Insert your own random thought here.

 The daffodils have now faded,

but the flowering crab and lilacs are in full bloom.

Such a joy to see new life and color and beauty.

P.S. Speaking of 'middle,' I'm a middle child. How about you?

***

Check out my natural, handcrafted vegan soap!
Buy any 5 or more, Get 1 FREE
 

Peaches & Almonds

Natural Vegan Soap


...and more! Check out all my handcrafted soaps at
 
HomemadeSoapNSuch


and at


Our ETSY Shop

Instagram: @cranberrymorning

Have a wonderful day, friends!